Businesses in Antique’s capital town are told to beat the Jan. 20 deadline to renew their permits to avoid penalties.

San Jose de Buenavista Business Permits and Licensing Officer Elsie Elizalde said in an interview Tuesday they have a one-stop shop at the town hall to help businesses process their documentary requirements.

“In the one-stop shop, there are already personnel of the Bureau of Fire Protection and the Municipal Health Office (MHO) so that they could issue the needed documents by the entrepreneurs,” she said.

The BFP issues the fire safety clearance certificate, while the sanitary inspector releases the health certificate needed to renew permits.

“Some documents needed for the business renewal are barangay clearance, Department of Trade and Industry business name registration, resident certificate, and contract of lease if they are renting a commercial space,” Elizalde said.

She said through the one-stop shop, an entrepreneur could get the permit within the day, provided their documents are complete.

The one-stop-shop also caters to new permit applications and not just for renewal, she said.

“As of today, there are already 317 applications for business permit renewal and eight as new applications,” she said.

Last year, the local government issued 2,000 new and renewed business permits.

Those who fail to renew their permits after Jan. 20 will pay a 20 percent surcharge of their business tax with an additional 2 percent monthly interest. (PNA)